Nathan Gerbe is a feisty, quick, hard-working forward. He’s listed as a center but as of late for the Sabres has played wing. Towards the end of the 2011-2012 season he played on a line with Paul Gaustad and Mark Mancari. It was a line that embodied hard work and ended up starting most games by the playoffs.

Gerbe’s small size has likened him by The Willful Caboose as a Honey Badger. Despite his diminutive stature, like the honey badger, Nathan Gerbe does not give a *%$! and will do whatever it takes, including going into corners to fight for pucks or taking on players a foot taller than him, including the towering Zdeno Chara.

Watch out, or the little guy will light you up.

Nathan Gerbe’s rapid growth in the second half of the 2010-2011 season endeared him to many fans. Gerbe has a knack for making things happen and putting shots on goal. He has a surprisingly fast wrist shot. His timely ascension was crucial to the Sabres making the playoffs.

This clutch spin-o-rama goal came against the Flyers in the 2nd to last game of the regular season. It was the last home game (the alumni game) with much at stake and the win clinched a playoff spot.

Quick Hits:

He is known as the Tasmanian Devil, Mighty Mouse, Nate “The Great” (or is it the grate, as in he grates on you?), as well as “The Answer”. (This due to his wearing #42 which is said to be the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything. Of course I might be the only one to ever call him that. I like typing a lot in parenthesis.)

Gerbe’s hockey role models include Danny Briere and Martin St. Louis.

Won the rookie of the year award in the AHL in 2008 (aka the Dudley “Red” Garret Memorial Award. (Which the Sabres apparently own now that they’ve won it 3 years in a row.)

As Dan Carcillo found out in round one of the playoffs, patting Gerbe on the head serves to further incite him and increase his power meter.

Defining Moment

In a crucial game during the stretch run of the 2010-2011 season, the Sabres were doggedly trying to hold onto a slim 1-0 lead against the Montreal Canadiens. With under thirty seconds left, the Canadiens had an extra attacker and were applying massive pressure in the Sabres zone. A scrappy Gerbe was badgering (see what we did there?) opponents and finally knocked the puck loose whereupon he recovered it and scored an empty net goal.

Future:

He’s a restricted free agent this year but it’s expected that the Sabres won’t let him run off. Of course, some other team could conceivably come in with a big offer based on his 2nd half performance.

Gerbe is the type of do-it-all player that every team would love to have. He could be given an alternate captain tag, or a couple years down the road possibly a “C”. You never know since he has the ability to inspire other players with his all-out mentality.